MONDAY, JANUARY 3
Most Holy Name of Jesus

The Most Holy Name of Jesus began to receive liturgical veneration in the 14th century. Saint Bernardino of Siena was a great promoter of this devotion. He said: “This is my intention: to renew and clarify the name of Jesus, as it was in the early Church.” So that his preaching would not be forgotten, Bernardino devised a brightly colored symbol to be displayed in all public and private places. Thus, the trigram of the name of Jesus became famous, and it can be found everywhere Saint Bernardino and his disciples preached and stayed. The symbol consists of a radiant sun on an azure background, bearing the letters IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek. The sun is a clear allusion to Christ, and its warmth is spread by the rays, which in the trigram number twelve, referring to the twelve apostles. Another eight straight rays represent the Beatitudes, while the band surrounding the sun represents the eternal happiness of the blessed. The emblem, reproduced on a wooden plaque, was placed on the altar during Mass, and at the end the faithful were invited to kiss it. Saint Bernardino’s trigram spread successfully throughout Europe; Saint Joan of Arc also wanted to embroider it on her banner. Later, it was adopted by the Jesuits as well. The Society of Jesus itself became a supporter of devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus and dedicated its most beautiful churches to it, including, above all, the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the largest Jesuit church.
In 1530, Pope Clement VII authorized the Franciscan Order to recite the Office of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Saint John Paul II moved the optional memorial in the Roman Calendar to January 3.

For further reading:
• Pray, pray, pray

You may also be interested in:
• IHS stainless steel pendant

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4
Saint Angela of Foligno

Angela of Foligno, one of the first Italian mystics, was born in 1248. After a comfortable youth, at the age of 37 she began her radical conversion: tested by the pain of losing her husband and children and encouraged in a dream by Saint Francis, she embarked on the path to perfection. She became a Franciscan tertiary and, during a pilgrimage to Assisi, experienced extraordinary mystical experiences. Many disciples gathered around her, to whom she left a spiritual testament: “There is no greater charity on earth than suffering for the sins of one’s neighbor… such love is no longer of the earth, but of heaven. I leave you as an inheritance all that I possess: the life of Christ, poverty, suffering, and contempt.” Let us explore her human and spiritual journey.

For further reading:
• Novena to Saint Angela of Foligno

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6
The Epiphany of the Lord

“The evangelist Matthew emphasizes that the Magi, when they arrived in Bethlehem, ‘saw the child with Mary his mother, and they prostrated themselves and paid him homage’ (Mt 2:11). Adoring the Lord is not easy; it is not something immediate: it requires a certain spiritual maturity, since it is the destination of an interior journey, sometimes a long one. […] In our time, it is particularly necessary that, both individually and communally, we devote more time to adoration, learning ever better how to contemplate the Lord. We have somewhat lost the sense of the prayer of adoration; we must recover it, both communally and in our own spiritual lives. Today, therefore, we place ourselves at the school of the Magi, to draw from them some useful lessons: like them, we want to prostrate ourselves and adore the Lord. To adore him in earnest.” Let us meditate on these words of Pope Francis, seeking to experience a moment of adoration on this special day. 
Today is also World Missionary Childhood Day. Let us pray for all the children of the world.

For further reading:
• At your word. January-February 2022 Missalette
• With Living Water. Daily Liturgy of the Hours, January-February 2022 
• Festal Missal. Sundays, Solemnities, Proper of the Saints 
• Admirabile signum. Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father Francis on the meaning and importance of the nativity scene

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
Beginning of the Thirteen Fridays dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola

The practice of the Thirteen Fridays was established by Saint Francis of Paola, who had conceived it in honor of the Lord and the twelve apostles. It was initially conceived as follows: “For thirteen consecutive Fridays, you will confess your sins and receive Holy Communion at the Mass that you have celebrated or attended, for the grace you need. During Mass, you will recite thirteen Our Fathers and thirteen Hail Marys in honor and reverence of Jesus Christ crucified and the twelve apostles. At the same time, you will burn two wax candles, as a sign of the two virtues: faith and hope; and you will keep a third one lit in your hand, as a symbol of charity, with which you must love God and ask him for graces. Thus our Lord will grant you the fulfillment of your rightful desires.” Today this practice has become an intense spiritual journey for rediscovering the figure of Saint Francis of Paola and asking for his intercession, while, during the thirteen Fridays, following the various virtues he practiced and proposed to us as an example of Christian life, so that we may embody them in the small things of everyday life and thus profess our faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Saint Francis did not establish a particular time of year in which to practice this devotion, but over time the custom arose of observing it during the thirteen Fridays that, from the beginning of the year, precede the liturgical feast of April 2, which commemorates the death of the saint. 

For further reading:
• The Thirteen Fridays of Saint Francis of Paola

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8
Beginning of the novena to Saint Anthony the Abbot

The life of Saint Anthony was extraordinary. During these days, as we confidently invoke his intercession, let us reflect again on the words Jesus spoke to him after a dark period. Anthony, in fact, had to face a period of terrible spiritual darkness. He felt that he was a poor deluded man and believed that God had abandoned him. He managed to overcome these difficult moments by persevering in faith and carrying out God's will every day, as his teachers had taught him. In the end, the light of Christ completely enveloped him. “Where were you?” Anthony then asked Jesus. “Why did you not appear from the beginning to put an end to my suffering?” The answer he heard was: “Anthony, I was here with you and was witnessing your struggle.”

For further reading:
• Pray, pray, pray

You may also be interested in:
• Little image of Saint Anthony the Abbot

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9
Baptism of the Lord

The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus concludes the Christmas Season, reminding us of our birth as children of God. Certain signs can help us commemorate it, such as the rite of sprinkling with holy water on Sundays at the beginning of Mass, or preaching and catechesis on baptismal themes and symbols. The Fathers of the Church said that Jesus, by descending into the waters of the Jordan, ideally sanctified the waters of all baptisteries, from the simplest and most modern, located at the entrance of churches, to those that rise in everlasting glory to the Sacrament and to art, near the great cathedrals of past centuries. 
Today it is good to remember the day of our Baptism by looking at photos and asking those who were present. If we do not remember the date, we can contact the parish priest of the parish where we received it. We can make a resolution to celebrate that day in a special way every year.

For further reading:
• With Living Water. Daily Liturgy of the Hours, January-February 2022
• At your word. January-February 2022 Missalette
• Festal Missal. Sundays, Solemnities, Proper of the Saints

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9
Beginning of the novena to Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce

«The soul has only one duty before God: its sanctification. And this depends on the perfect fulfillment of his most holy Will.» These are the words of Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce. An Augustinian nun, she was a woman of enthusiasm and ideals, yet prudent, with a keen sense of divine justice, above all human justice. Strong, temperate, and in love with Christ. Cascia as it is today would not have existed without her. Let us invoke her with faith during these nine days. Let us ask her: «Help us to respond with our lives so that we may become mirrors and echoes of God's love for all those who come near us» (from the prayer to Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce by Cardinal Angelo Comastri).

For further reading:
• Prayers to Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce
• Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce

You may also be interested in:
• Blessed Fasce Postcard
• Blessed Fasce Holy Card
• Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce Statue